What is a Heijunka Box used for?

A Heijunka Box is used as a visual tool to facilitate the leveling of production in Lean manufacturing. Its primary purpose is to balance the mix and volume of products being produced, allowing for a smoother flow and reducing fluctuations that can lead to inefficiencies. By utilizing a Heijunka Box, teams can better manage the scheduling of different types of products in a way that aligns demand with production capacity.

The Heijunka Box aids in organizing the production schedule, making it clear when and how much of each product should be produced. This leveling reduces inventory levels, decreases lead times, and enhances the overall efficiency of operations. The visual aspect of the Heijunka Box engages teams in seeing and understanding production patterns, which is integral to continuous improvement efforts in a Lean environment.